Technology company launched in Chico is expanding

CHICO — A technology company focusing on digital retail advertising that's been in Chico for years, is looking forward to a fresh beginning and will be moving downtown into a remodeled building next year.

Advertising, coupons, daily deals and other digital online opportunities put onto about 275 newspaper and media websites is the purpose of FindnSave, a digital product created in Chico and now owned by a Bay Area company.

FindnSave was created by the Chico company Travidia, and was purchased last year by a consortium of media companies under the name ShopCo Holdings, which now is known as Wanderful Media, under new CEO Ben T. Smith IV.

FindnSave allows consumers to get email alerts, take advantage of daily deals, clip and print coupons for local products and services, search local sales and promotions, and shop a store's inventory from home.

Smith recently announced Wanderful's purchase of a similar digital product called iCircular from Associated Press, which will provide more opportunities for digital advertising on iPhones mobile devices and tablets, he said. No personnel were involved in the transaction.

Smith is moving FindnSave's development and operations office from the Chico Municipal Airport Industrial Park to a leased downtown office being remodeled at 325 Broadway. The move is expected to be made during the first quarter of 2013.

"We wanted to be in the heart of Chico and to support the business community," Smith said in an email. "We also believed that it would be a great working environment for all of our employees."

"This could be really great for downtown," noted city Planning Services Director Mark Wolfe, noting there are other technology companies downtown including Auctiva, which produces online auction products.

Wanderful employs about 60 between offices in Los Gatos and Chico, with the majority — 40-45 — here.

Smith has also set a goal of expanding the FindnSave host websites to at least 600 by 2013.

Smith said the company and its investors have made a commitment to stay in Chico, dedicating hundreds of thousands of dollars to it. It's looking for additional engineers, software developers, and account managers among others.